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okokok
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
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 Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:56 am Post subject: Change for the worse |
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Free refills are one of the things I like about Korea.
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McDonald�s Goes Frugal on Refills
By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Thirsty McDonald's patrons who need a refill to wash down their hamburger and fries are set to be forced into purchasing a fresh drink, even if all they need is one final sip.
For McDonald's Korea will no longer offer free soda refills at all of its outlets nationwide, citing costs and operational efficiency. The change will take effect June 1.
``It is a strategic business decision we made not only to cut costs, but more particularly to service our customers better,'' company spokeswoman Kim Ju-young said Wednesday.
She said that repeated requests for refills often interrupt service for new customers waiting in long queues to order.
Local McDonald's units do not have self-service drink stations, unlike the limited number of locations that do in other parts of the world. The need for staff attention for every refill has taken a toll on overall efficiency and workflow, according to the burger giant.
The new policy will require customers to choose between a 1,500-won medium size or a 1,700-won large size drink if they're not satisfied with their first cup.
The extra income will boost its overall revenue, which has been recording a two-digit growth since 2006. The world's largest fast food chain as a whole is bucking the recessionary trend, as it reported impressive earnings in the fourth quarter of 2008.
McDonald's Korea is one of the fastest-growing units and it pays 5 percent of its annual sales in royalty to the head office.
The company claims that it isn't mandatory for fast food chains to offer free refills and that the discontinuation would ultimately help McDonald's invest in its other new services.
But the news is upsetting to frequent McDonald's goers.
``Doesn't refilling a cup of soda take about 10 seconds?'' asks Kim Ji-eun, a 27-year-old office worker, who eats the 3,900-won McDonald's lunch meal at least once a week. ``If I have to pay extra for a refill, that means my overall lunch expense is going to go up that much.''
Lim Soo-jung, 31, another patron raised concerns that other fast food chains will follow suit. Lotteria, Burger King and KFC have so far expressed no intention of scrapping their refill service.
``The other companies might soon change their policy. I think it's just a matter of time,'' she said.
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:02 am Post subject: |
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Every time you eat Mickey D's you shorten your life by at least a day (I'd surmise). I know that the last day of your life probably won't be the best one, but still.
As an American, I feel entitled to say that Ronald McDonald doesn't give a flying *beep* about your health as long as you're filling his pockets.
Don't let that greasy clown make a chump out of you. |
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harlowethrombey
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:54 am Post subject: |
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I totally agree that McDonalds is unhealthy. So is binge drinking. Potentially so is premarital sex. But they're all some things most of us need to do once in a while to stay sane.
No more free refills is a bummer. 
As a fat, boorish American I loves my cheezeburgers and I loves my free refills. |
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Leslie Cheswyck
Joined: 31 May 2003
Location: University of Western Chile
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:56 am Post subject: |
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| Burger King looks better and better. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:01 am Post subject: |
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I can understand this because right now they completely let people get away with ordering one drink for 4 people and refilling the crap out of it.
Perhaps if they instituted a 1 drink per person rule or no refills it might make a difference. |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| The students do it all the time... |
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ThomasR
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:44 am Post subject: |
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| Im not a huge soda fan but I like Mc D's every now and again. I loved the sweet tea (probably more sugar then any other soft drink there but whatever) then they got rid of that... Whatever. I would much prefer them to sell bottled juices as I tend to drink cranberry juice with all my meals. But that would be to much to ask for McDonalds to have something healthy... |
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Protonoto
Joined: 17 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:16 am Post subject: |
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| When I was in america I was really surprised about the free refills I kept getting. We don't get this in the UK so I guess you yanks are lucky for that. |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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I would like a little more information. Overall, McDonalds seems to have benefited from the recession as people are more often turning to cheaper fast food for nourishment.
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"2008 was a strong year for McDonald's," said Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner in a statement. "McDonald's begins 2009 with six years of momentum, a business model that has delivered even in challenging economic conditions and January sales that remain strong," he added.
McDonald's benefited from the economic crisis as it offered pricier dining options, more menu offerings and took advantage of extended hours to appeal to consumers tight in cash. It also benefited from low prices of fuel and many other commodities, according to Marketwatch. |
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20090126/mcdonalds-profit-falls.htm
McDonalds must be on this 'lean' binge, reducing costs wherever possible. I'm a little surprised they'd go as far as taking away drink refills, as it's so cheap to do it (less than $0.05 a glass) |
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Pwillig
Joined: 26 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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BOO BOO YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR DIABETES.
Yea, caps. |
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DCJames
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Leslie Cheswyck wrote: |
| Burger King looks better and better. |
You will shell out some big $$$ for a whopper in Korea.  |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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American McDonalds has made a lot of effort to make their menu healthier. Some health experts give it s B+ score.
McDonalds in Korea has made 0 effort to improve their menu. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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| I almost never get the drinks or chips and just eat the burger with a bottle of water. What did it for me was a scene in Supersize Me. The test subject ate everything on the menu and was threatening his own life after a month. But he interviewed the guy who holds the world record for eating the most Big Macs in his lifetime and the guy was a reasonably healthy, middle-age guy with just a few extra pounds. His secret? He just ate Big Macs with black coffee. 20,000+ Big Macs later and he was still alive and ticking. It's the combination of doubling the caloriees through sugar and fat with all the extra salt that's leathal. |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Bring back the salad shaker and I might stop by there again. |
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sarbonn
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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I can't eat at McDonalds in Korea. I tried and found the food horribly disgusting. Someone tried to tell me it's the same food as you get back in the states, and it just can't be true because I ordered a cheeseburger, got halfway through it and felt like I had to vomit because it was just so awful.
I've found Burger King here to be too much food on practically every order I've purchased. A Korean friend of mine likes to eat there, so we used to go there when I first came over, and I had to stop eating there because it was like eating five meals while having one burger. I always felt sick the next day, too.
So far, the only fast food place I tend to like here is KFC. Korea has really turned me away from fast food, which I used to love back in the states (yeah, unhealthy and all). |
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